Garment-hanger.



C. GLIFT. GARMENT HANGER. APPLIGATION FILED MAY 4, 1907.

.Patented Dec. 14, 1909.

Z/z 55615:' 2%# M 64E. @Town UNITED STATES PATENT FFICF.

CHRISTOPHER CLIFT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 THE CLIFT COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OI-IIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

GARMENT-HANGER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, 1909.

Application led May 4, 1907'. Serial No. 371,775.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER CLir'r, a citizen of the United States, resident of New York, county of New York, State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Garment-Hangers, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

This my present invention relates to garment hangers of the foldable class, the special object of the improvements which form the subject matter of this application being to provide a hanger that can be readily attached to a suitable support as to 'a rail, panel or wall, and that., when not in use, may be folded back into a housing or box therefor provided so as to lie flush with such panel or the like.

A further object is to provide in such hanger, a hook especially adapted to support a hat, and another hook convenient for garments, the two having such relative arrangement as not to interfere with each other.

A still further object is to provide a device of the character in hand that will at the same time be economical in construction and ornamental in appearance.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, such invention consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly set forth in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing: Figure l is a vertical section showing my improved garment hanger as mounted in a suitable support, the hanger members appearing in their inoperative positions; Fig. 2 is a similar view of the hanger showing such members in their outwardly disposed or operative positions; Fig. 3 is a front view of the device by itself with the parts in the same position as shown in Fig. l; and Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to that in Fig. 3, but with the two hanger members that form the movable parts of the device removed so as to show the interior of the housing or box in which such parts are mounted.

The particular form of hanger here chosen for illustrative purposes, it should be stated, is designed primarily for use in fixed rather than in movable supports, as for instance in closets or elsewhere about buildings. I-Iaving reference, then, to the figures just described, A will be seen to designate such support, whether a stile, rail, panel, or the like, in which my improved garment hanger is mounted.

The hanger proper comprises simply a supporting member here shown as a housing or box B, and two hanger members Z) o pivotally mounted therein as will be presently 'more fully explained. Housing B is designed to let into a suitable mortise a in the support A, where, as shown, such support consists of a panel of wood or like material. rThe manner of its application where the object to which it is to be attached is made of metal or the like would be varied from that here shown, depending upon the circumstances, the principle of its operation, however, remaining the same. To hold such housing in place in the mortise a, screws Z22 passing through counter-sunk holes in the back of the housing are employed. In form such housing' is a simple open receptacle preferably of the general rectangular form shown and having a marginal flange which may be plain or ornamental, as desired; its object being to conceal the edge of the mortise. In addition to the counter-sunk holes designed for the reception of the heads of screws b2 such housing has a narrow transverse opening or slot b3 extending transversely across its upper end. The lower portion of the housing is furthermore formed with a cylindrically curved recess 5*, axially situated with respect to which is av pin b5, suitably mounted in the walls of the hous-v ing, Figs. 2 and 4. Pivotally mounted upon such pin are the two hanger members o o previously referred to. Ofthese` hooks the one o is designed for use as a support for hats, and the other o, more particularly for garments. In their inoperative positions the hooks lie substantially wholly within the casing B, Fig. l, so that such casing is practically closed, as seen in Fig. 8. This closed, or inoperative position they are adapted normally to retain, once they are thus placed,

by virtue of the position of their pivotal axis and the relation thereto of their respective centers of gravity. The outer ends ofthe respective hanger members are formed, however, with projecting ears b bl that permit the same to be readily withdrawn from the closed or retracted positions just described, whereupon they fall or swing of themselves into their open or operative positions. The object of transverse slot 3, it will be seen, is to receive the hooks of such members Z) b, for the accommodation of which there further requires to be provided a recess a extending inwardly from the mortise a into which the casing proper is let. Upon withdrawing hanger members Z) from their closed positions, such as shown in Figs. l and 3, the one hanger o has its inner end engaged by a small lug 3 projecting from the rear wall of the casing B ust above the edge of recessl b* therein. In this way such member is retained in the outwardly projecting position shown in Fig. 2. The other hanger, however, is allowed to freely descend until it rests against the lower portion of the edge of the box as also appears in Fig. 2. Vhen the hanger is folded up or closed it will be evident that the back wall of the casing, as also the attaching screws bf, are entirely concealed from View so that the device as a whole will thus malte a neat appearance. As has been previously indicated such appearance may be improved by forming the parts of ornamental design similar to the bronze non-foldable hooks of commerce, such details obviously.forming no part of the present invention and hence being left to the skill of the mechanic or designer.

Aside from the successful attainment of the several objects stated as here being sought, I should call attention to the operative sin'iplicity of the device, which of course is directly vdue to the few parts involved in the construction of the hanger` The cost of manufacture is at the same time made quite reasonable so as to malte the hanger no more expensive than the old time iixedly projecting hook of corresponding grade or quality.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any one of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention :W

l. A hanger comprising a supporting member; hanger members pivotally mounted in said supporting member; means adapted to engage one of said hanger members to retain the same in an outwardly projecting position; and means adapted to engage the other of said hanger members to support the same in a pendent position, the said hanger members being adapted in their inoperative positions to lie substantially flush with said supporting member.

2. A hanger comprising a supporting member; two hanger members pivot-ally mountedl side by side in said supporting member, said hanger members being adapted in their inoperative positions to lie substantially flush with said supporting member; and a lug on the rear wall of the latter for limiting the downward movement of one of said hanger members to hold the same in an outwardly projecting position, the movement of the other of said members being limited only by its engagement with the edge of the supporting member.

3. A hanger comprising a housing adapted to be secured to a suitable support; two hanger members disposed side by side in said housing, said members having their lower ends pivotally secured thereto and be.- ing adapted normally to be retained by gravity in a closed position with respect to said housing; and a lug on the rear wall of said housing for limiting the downward movement of one of said members to hold the same in an outwardly projecting position, the movement of the other of said members being limited only by its engagement with the edge of the housing.

et. It hanger comprising a housing adapted to be secured to a suitable support and having a curved recess formed in the lower portion, and a transverse slot in the upper portion, of its rear wall; two independent hanger members disposed side by side in said housino', said members being pivotally secured near their lower ends on a transverse axis in front of such recess, such axis being disposed to allow said members normally to be held by gravity in a closed' position with respect to said housinO, and the hooks of said members when thus closed being received in the slot in said housing; and a lug on the Vrear wall of said housing just above such recess adapted to engage the lower end of one of said members to retain the latter in an outwardly projecting position, the movement of the other member being limited only by its engagement with the edge of the housing.

Signed by me this 2nd day of May, 1907.

CHRISTOPHER GLIFT.

Attested by- MARY ISRAEL, JN0. F. OBERLIN. 

